Between Cities: Impossible Photography

Ways of Seeing: John Berger

Ways of seeing, a documentary that teaches us to see paintings as no one has seen them before, throughout this documentary, narrated by John Berger, the documentary focuses on the art of photography as well as allowing us to see how the human eye is able to travel a multitude of places with photography itself.  As the documentary continues John Berger shows us how perspective makes the eye of the human world possible, as there are many different points of view in which to see a picture. Berger shows us a fresh perception of the world, and explains a new world seen through the camera. The camera was an invention that changed not only what we see, but also how we see it, for instance seeing a single painting in a million different places. As the documentary continues the camera is an object used to portray art in the setting of the viewer’s life.  Cameras can be seen as a tool to keep records of a life or even a buildings interior life. This can be seen where Berger speaks about the Renaissance Churches and the art work throughout the building.   Throughout the documentary John Berger describes the camera as a messenger of images. It reconstructs as well as reproduces the image and makes it available in anyone’s home. As he continues on he soon makes the point that the camera can be seen as a substitute for what the painting has lost. The documentary Ways of seeing is an informational record of both camera and art and how they coincide to portray an image in many different ways for many different viewers.

Airbrushing and Sliming

Before 

After 

Before 

After 

WE ARE FAMILY

1. What kind of photography did Diane Arbus do? 

Diane Arbus mainly focused on marginal characters. She used the camera to steal nd exploit other people’s lives as the camera gave her the license  to strip away the unnecessary details. Her subjects mainly consisted of freaks and people who were said to have ‘already passed the test in life’, people who were most vulnerable. She also focused on upper classportraits, for instance photographing the Matthaei family; they were people who wanted something different, Diana felt she could after being raised in similar stuffy circumstances. Concern and dismay were the main themes throughout her photography as she was a vulnerable character herself.

2. Do you think photographers prey on vulnerable people? 

I believe that it is all up to interpretation whether photographers prey on the vulnerable. Certain photographers may use subjects who are vulnerable as they are reflecting on their on vulnerability or issues, and  other photographers may have just a general genre of photography not  focusing on whether the subject is vulnerable or not.

3. What is Larry Clark's "Tulsa" project about?   

Larry Clark’s ‘Tulsa’ project can be seen as nothing other than a personal tribute to his life of sex drugs and rock and roll.  Clark was seen as an  ‘insider not an outsider.’ Published in 1971 Larry Clark’s ‘Tulsa’ was seen  as a controversial impolite genre that the audience was not expecting.  His  subjects mainly focused on usual suburbanites who lived in Tulsa. 

4. What is the Title of Nan Goldin's renowned work? 

Nan Goldin’s photography can only be described as confessional  photography. Her themes were mainly focused on creating the normality of the un-normal. Focusing on transsexuals, transvestites, believing that they were not abnormal but only a third gender. The title of Nan Goldin’s most renowned work was the “The Ballad of Sexual deficiency” focusing        mainly on the difficulty men and women have being compatible. 

5. What are Araki's photographs about now? And what is his philosophy now? 

Araki’s photographs mainly focused on the theme of promiscuity.  Throughout his life Araki focused his photos on sex and how people interpret everyday life. Araki believed that life was completely accounted for by photography, and that if he didn’t shoot photographs he wouldn’t remember the events.

6. What is Richard Billingham's work about? 

Richard Billingham’s work mainly focused on family orientated themes, whilst living in a Thatcherite ruled government in working class Britain. Richard Billingham’s work revolved around the fascination with his    alcoholic father and his estranged mother, and how the two lived out their lives separately. His work was seen as an unofficial family album.